How to Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) and NVRAM on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs

Introduction

When your Mac exhibits strange hardware behaviors—such as fans running at maximum speed for no reason, the battery failing to charge correctly, or Bluetooth and display anomalies—resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) and the Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory (NVRAM) is often the first and most effective troubleshooting step. This guide explains how to perform these resets on both Intel-based and newer Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Macs.

Understanding SMC and NVRAM

The SMC handles low-level hardware functions, including thermal management, battery charging, and power button responses. NVRAM (or PRAM on older Macs) stores small amounts of settings that the Mac needs to access quickly before the operating system loads, such as speaker volume, display resolution, and startup disk selection.

Apple Silicon (M-Series) Macs

If you own an Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2, M3, etc.), the architecture does not include a traditional SMC or NVRAM that requires manual resetting. The system handles these functions dynamically.

To resolve hardware issues on Apple Silicon: Simply restart the Mac. Shut down the computer completely from the Apple menu. Wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. The system automatically performs hardware checks and resets necessary parameters during the boot process.

Resetting the SMC on Intel Macs (with T2 Security Chip)

Macs introduced between 2018 and 2020 typically feature the Apple T2 Security Chip. To reset the SMC on these laptops:

1. Shut down your Mac completely.
2. On the built-in keyboard, press and hold all of the following keys: Control (left side), Option (left side), and Shift (right side).
3. Keep holding all three keys for 7 seconds, then press and hold the Power button as well.
4. Keep holding all four keys for another 7 seconds, then release them.
5. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.

Resetting the SMC on Intel Macs (without T2 Chip)

For older Intel MacBook models (up to 2017) with non-removable batteries:

1. Shut down the Mac.
2. On the built-in keyboard, press and hold: Shift (left side), Control (left side), and Option (left side).
3. While holding all three keys, press and hold the Power button.
4. Hold all four keys for 10 seconds.
5. Release all keys, then press the power button to turn the Mac on.

For Intel Mac desktops (iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro), simply shut down the Mac, unplug the power cord for 15 seconds, plug it back in, wait 5 seconds, and turn it on.

Resetting the NVRAM on all Intel Macs

The process for resetting the NVRAM is identical for all Intel-based Macs:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Turn it on and immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P, and R.
3. Hold the keys for about 20 seconds. During this time, your Mac might appear to restart.
4. If your Mac plays a startup chime, you can release the keys after the second chime.
5. If your Mac has the T2 chip, you can release the keys after the Apple logo appears and disappears for the second time.

Once the NVRAM is reset, you may need to open System Settings and adjust your display resolution, time zone, or startup disk preferences.